In a rare admission, Pakistan on Monday said at least seven of its soldiers were killed in "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops across the LoC following which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asserted that the country is "fully capable" of defending its territory against "any aggression". It is a clear warning that the situation may further escalate across the border. There are fears that with the rising escalation, civilian casualties from both sides of the border will also increase.
Speaking to a news channel, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley claimed that India has a "new normal" in dealing with Pakistan, declaring that Delhi's changed policy makes it clear that if Pakistan kills Indians, it will "pay a cost for it". There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for India-Pakistan relations.
After all the brouhaha surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore late last year, ties between the two nations have gone downhill. Neither side is letting up. The about turn in New Delhi’s position seems to reflect a poor assessment of Pakistan and their internal political and military dynamics. Meanwhile, the cost of the failed peace initiative between both sides will be borne by the soldiers on the border.